AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 21

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

j Farmers in a great many centres of Taraj naki" are making ensilage in place of hay j this -season, and it is reported that ' stacks J of 'ensilage are numerous. ', Experiments made this season at the 1 Oowra State Farm, New South Wales (writes "Alfalfa" in the Melbourne Weekly Times), go to 6how that the comeback variety, of -wheat is going to establish a front-rank reputation. An interesting point i with regard- to"' this wheat has been made i this year at the Cowra Farm. While comei back is recognised as one of the best results . of the late Mr Farrar's experiments as far !as the grain is concerned, many growers . believe that the straw is too weak, and this j would be a big set-off against ite virtues. The New South Wales Department of Agriculture, while" strongly favouring comeback, is, of eouree, anxious in all cases to simply j , arrive at facts, and thereby place the very best varieties at the disposal of growers. With regard to the strength of the straw, Mr Sutton, the manager of the State Farm at Oowra, who is a strong believer in comei back, had an exceptional opportunity of learning something definite on this point this eeaeon. The growth on about 10 acres of this wheat was very heavy, the crop standing about sft high. The rain in November laid it flat, and for a day or two it certainly appeared that comeback -was a failure under possible adverse circumstances. The straw, however, proved to be very lastic, and in a few days it was noticed that it bad come back (a very appropriate expression) to tbe perpendicular. Mr Sutton wm able to strip it. It yielded 36- bushels * per acre. The reeolt gives a dental to the reports that the «traw is weak." A Methodist minister, of Egerton, Victoria, lodged a. complaint with the local ! constable that a fanner near Egerton was working on Sunday cutting his crop. The clergyman said he had remonstrated with the offenders, but was told they-vouto do *as they liked, and be could do tbe same. The constable reported that Ryan Brot. had admitted the offence, but pointed out j that tha crop was over ripe, and shedding ite grain, making the work one of necessity. Be asked the council for authority to prcaecute. Councillors were unanimous that the work was one of necessity, and would not authorise *nr prosecution. Another new milking machine has been , installed at the experimental farm at Levin. ; This machine, ISke the previous one. contains two bucket* instead of en*, so that the milk from each cow can be tested . separately. Large numbers of stock are being trucked daOy at "Waipttkura* for southern pasture* owiac to the- scarcity of feed. Factory , ma&ajcers report that the Ay *peo has de- I creased the milk smnijr 25 per eeat. 1 TTrmawr a Linetidt employer refined a man money,, tb* latter drew forth a razor and threatened seieiee. The- employer a few -jut*" afterwards nwlaced * tossed ie*ofaer and tdd th* maa to take it <m£side aa4 da th* deedl 3 a alt. «fcte*n*lyThe antim hmaomr dapSayed at oaee sobered ths> ettina workuwa. wW term <So«n* the razor and dashed oat of the hocacla Bfazflbecmqrji th* cast came too Ist* for very mas? «f tfc* pea, erep*. a* ott* ef 2GGS acres m tha- district Hum, rear ant IS per cea* «£l b* ta^jr worth puffing. Itmmti afcoNK B&mI Knee, toe, ta* hmrle* i-» harta^l mttmtitm, huss maaamd a&tf tbunaw. A nlthcr heart a*e*talifrr ham «ee«rr«tJ | laat^r —«» «al»e» » aadi aJbsns. the j ' > gr- fc ' ■'■ *>tr«3L Tfci* is aitri-t halra » tk« saedk satibs eeo miaek jaosg f tt» Bm#m FKMti. «fc»arf «s ti»C£K&» - Kat awl w*wfc mm »npma% at Md at jjjjj^ JhafcaJE mtJt Jawtaafcat taa4 Cha»- * paaj'a OjiimtU E*tjCr, ha« «m>

pkted shearing 1 , with a splendid result. The whole olip averaged 9lb 7oz. The l»mb£ng •was rlso vetry good, averaging close on , 100 per cent. The new settlerfs ore" the Clydevale Estate have also very high 1 averages, and all are reported to be doing- -well, . and to be satisfied wifh. their respective purchases.